Today in History

March 20, 1974

The Attempted Kidnapping of Princess Anne

On March 20, 1974, Princess Anne was returning to Buckingham Palace from a charity event. In the car was her husband, Mark Phillips, her driver, and a private detective. Suddenly, a Ford escort in front of her Rolls Royce veered to a stop. A man emerged from the Ford, firing a pistol. Princess Anne's driver and the detective were both shot. The assailant pointed his weapon at the Royals, demanding they exit the car. Princess Anne replied "Not bloody likely".

Two passers-by intervened. One was shot in the chest, but the other managed to hit the assailant. The diversion allowed Princess Anne to exit the car on the side opposite the attack. The assailant was arrested two blocks away after shooting one of the arresting officers.

The gunman, Ian Ball, was adjudged mentally incompetent and remains under guarded hospitalization in Broodmoor Hospital.

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